HARRISBURG – After seven weeks of diligent work to find an alternative to the Senate’s plan to raise taxes on every Pennsylvanian, a group of House Republicans released today the Taxpayers’ Budget to fund the 2017-18 budget without the need to borrow money or increase taxes.

HARRISBURG – The state House on Tuesday passed House Bill 59, a key piece of the state budget package, on a predominately party-line vote. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Gettysburg), amends the Human Services Code to mandate work requirements for individuals on public assistance who are able to work and choose not to. It also reforms Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance program to ensure the administration operates these critical programs within the appropriated budget to reduce executive overspending, while ensuring care for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens.

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland) was one of the dissenting votes today on a key element of the budget process that passed in the state House by a 173-27 margin. House Bill 218, the general appropriations portion of the process, now heads to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk.

HARRISBURG – A state legislator with an extensive background in emergency medicine is commending a Department of Health decision that will now allow emergency medical service (EMS) providers to perform a finger stick test to diabetic patients in the field.

HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by state Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland) that would pay tribute to a member of the military from Cumberland County has passed the House unanimously. House Bill 154 may now be considered by the state Senate.

HARRISBURG – Branches of the military would have access to an expanded list of potential recruits under legislation authored by state Rep. Will Tallman (Adams/Cumberland). House Bill 524 now sits with the state Senate after passing the House Monday with overwhelming bipartisan support.

One month from now, the General Assembly will hopefully be putting the finishing touches on the 2017-18 state budget. From my point of view, we appear to be a good distance away from accomplishing that. One of the components of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan proposes to save $90 million by combining four state agencies - the departments of Aging, Health, Human Services, and Drug and Alcohol Programs. The governor wants to roll these agencies into one department, despite their having drastically different missions.

HARRISBURG – Legislation that would remove questionable participants from Pennsylvania’s taxpayer-funded state pension systems is on the move in the General Assembly, according to state Reps. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland).

In March, Sen. Rich Alloway (R-33), state Rep. Dan Moul (R-Gettysburg) and I joined House members from Lancaster and York counties for a meeting at the state Capitol with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Representatives from local governments were also in attendance to discuss the controversial Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC).

HARRISBURG- The state House today took the latest step in passing a spending plan for the 2017-18 fiscal year by approving House Bill 218, the General Fund appropriations portion of the state budget. The bill may now be taken up by the state Senate.

HARRISBURG – Members of the General Assembly met today with representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), including Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell, to discuss what they feel are abuses of power, redundancy of services and overall wasting of taxpayer dollars by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC).